New Ebola outbreak in DRC has killed 20 people so far

A new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the 11th in the country, has so far infected 49 people and killed 20, the World Health Organization has announced.1

The 11th outbreak was announced on 1 June, just days after the 10th outbreak was declared over.2 The country is also battling covid-19 and the world’s worst measles epidemic.3

The latest figures from WHO (12 July) report that an outbreak of Ebola in the Équateur province has led to 46 confirmed cases and three probable cases. With 20 deaths so far, the case fatality rate ratio sits at 40.8%. Two healthcare workers have been infected, and six of 18 health zones and 18 of 281 health areas in Équateur province have reported at least one confirmed or probable case.

Five health zones have reported contacts, and 89.2% have been followed up. A total of 564 contacts have so far completed their follow-up period.

WHO’s report said, “New confirmed and probable cases of EVD continue in this region, albeit at a relatively slow rate. However, the continued presence of confirmed cases in the community, along with contacts lost to follow-up, are of grave concern, given the highly infectious nature of the disease … The security situation appears relatively calm, with a few pockets of resistance, and support is being provided to the various commissions deployed on the ground.”

Speaking at a press conference on 13 July, Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO’s health emergencies programme, said, “The R0 for the last two weeks in June was 1.7, so technically each case is generating more than one case. This is still a very active outbreak and it is still a great concern.

“I would caution everyone that, while the numbers are low, in the era of covid it is important that we do not take our eyes off these other emerging diseases. They can get out of control very easily. We are very focused on supporting the government of Congo in eliminating Ebola once more.”

The DRC has reported more than 8000 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and around 190 deaths.